Overview
Rapid earth fault current limiters (REFCLs) quickly detect faults on 22 kilovolt powerlines. They respond by reducing the energy flowing through the affected line.
REFCLs were part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC), which followed the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. REFCLs were later legislated, and distribution businesses have installed them in Victoria.
Most of the REFCLs installed by distribution businesses protect high bushfire consequence areas. These are areas where there is a higher risk of loss of life and/or property if a bushfire starts. This does not mean that all hazardous bushfire risk areas in Victoria are now protected by REFCLs.
REFCLs also protect against electrocution. For example, they activate when an operator of heavy machinery hits an overhead line.
REFCL Operations Policy
Our REFCL operations policy outlines our expectations for REFCLs. Particularly, it outlines how distribution businesses should manage and operate REFCLs. Stakeholder feedback, obtained via public consultation, informed the development of this policy. Read more about the consultation here: REFCL operations consultation paper.
We will consider this policy when assessing safety cases, including Electricity Safety Management Schemes (ESMS) and Bushfire Mitigation Plans (BMP).
Read the REFCL Operations Policy:
Date: 20/01/2025 5:00
The currency and accuracy of this information cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the Energy Safe Victoria website for the current version.
Reviewed